Men are more concerned than women about looking old

The surprise new findings have revealed that chaps in their 20s are frightened of becoming unattractive.

Dr Carole Easton, the chief executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, said: "This probably flies in the face of what many people might expect.

"The views of our ageist society have a very far-reaching impact and influence people's perception of their later life at an early age."

However, as people move into their 30s, women become more likely to worry about the disappearance of their youthful looks.

The study explained that 49 per cent of people overall feared they would not look good when they got older while women over the age of 71 are four times more likely than men to worry about their bodies and minds letting them down in later life.

Dr Easton said: "Thinking negatively about ageing and older people has been accepted and ignored for too long.

"Now is the time to change this."

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